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matthewsjc1
Inspiring
February 22, 2022
Answered

Illustrator processes faster when mouse cursor is moving over window

  • February 22, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 1127 views

This is the strangest thing and I have no clue why it happens. I hadn't noticed until the other day that when my mouse cursor is moving over an open Illustrator document that is being processed by software I've written (accesses Illustrator via COM), Illustrator process the document WAY faster (it takes seconds instead of the usual couple minutes).

 

I decided to run a test and added a "counter" to the app that reads out how fast the paths in the document are being processed. Sure enough, when the cursor is not moving or not over the Illustrator window, the paths are processed at around 4 per second. When the cursor is moving over the Illustrator window, it jumps up to around 50  I checked Task Manager and the CPU percentage jumps up, as well, when the cursor is moving over the Illustrator window.

 

It's so strange I haven't been able to pinpoint the cause or find a way to reproduce it programatically, which would be very useful, as files would process far faster.

 

If anyone has experience, an explanation, or a way to reproduce this programmatically, I'd love to hear!

 

Thank you,

Jared Matthews

ESM Trading Company

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer matthewsjc1

    I found a solution. I ended up just slightly changing the document view's zoom factor in each 'for' loop iteration. This causes the same change as moving the mouse over the window (I'm assuming some sort of redraw/update) and makes the app process at full speed.

    3 replies

    M
    matthewsjc1AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    March 21, 2022

    I found a solution. I ended up just slightly changing the document view's zoom factor in each 'for' loop iteration. This causes the same change as moving the mouse over the window (I'm assuming some sort of redraw/update) and makes the app process at full speed.

      CarlosCanto
      Community Expert
      CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 21, 2022

      thanks for sharing your findings!! this could be real useful.

      Silly-V
      Silly-V
      Legend
      February 22, 2022

      Try doing this test with:

      * GPU preview on

      * GPU preview off

      * GPU preview on & Outline View

      * GPU preview off & Outline View

       

      It would be interesting to see if something that the user can change in the UI could have an effect on this issue!

      CarlosCanto
      Community Expert
      CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 22, 2022

      when using js, outline view and full screen definitely improve performance. The reason, less UI and Art to redraw.

      M
      matthewsjc1Author
      Inspiring
      February 22, 2022

      It was the same result with CPU as with GPU.

      I tried outline mode and BAM! It processed the entire document in around a second (even faster than moving the cursor)! Great suggestion!! Thanks!

        CarlosCanto
        Community Expert
        CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 22, 2022

        that's a very unusual find, thanks for sharing! I'd do some testing and report back as soon as I have a chance.

         

        thanks!

          CarlosCanto
          Community Expert
          CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          February 22, 2022

          since I'm working on a script as we speak, I shook the mouse around expecting to see the magic...it actually slowed down the process. It was javascript though.

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